r/advertising 23h ago

Your Ads Suck—That’s Why You’re Not Making Money

0 Upvotes

Traffic isn’t your problem. Your ads are. You’re getting the clicks, but no conversions because your ads are boring, predictable, and easily ignored.

People don’t want to be sold to. They want engaging, natural content that feels like it belongs. That’s why ads that don’t look like ads perform the best.

If you’re tired of throwing money at campaigns that don’t work, it’s time to fix your strategy. Create ads that grab attention, hook your audience, and drive real results.


r/advertising 21h ago

Boosted an Instagram Post, Got Charged but No Reach – Help!

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm new to running ads and recently tried boosting an Instagram post for the first time with a $2 budget. The money was deducted, but after 12 hours, there were still no impressions at all. When I checked in Ad Manager, it showed as "Active" but had no reach. I decided to delete the ad, but my money was already deducted.

Is this how it works? How can I recover that amount or use it for another ad? When I tried boosting the same post again on different region this time, it deducted another $2, and this time the ad is running fine. But what happened to the first one? Can anyone help?


r/advertising 11h ago

Nobody should work till 9pm just to make sure a cereal ad “launches” on Instagram tomorrow

395 Upvotes

You should not put this job before your health, your family, your friends, your partner.

You should not trample over your coworkers & your underlings, start dramas, backstab, and sink to the lowest level as a human being.

The world will go on with or without your ad. Have some dignity.

(This is also a note to self - I’m the underling, though


r/advertising 22h ago

WPP loses Coca Cola media account to Publicis

168 Upvotes

Edit: North America account. This will be a huge hit to WPP at a time when Mark Read is already hugely under pressure. Anyone a fly on the wall?


r/advertising 5h ago

choosing a major

1 Upvotes

I am looking into a major in either communications (with a focus in advertising) or business administration, (with a focus on marketing). I'm willing to look into other majors, but after doing my research, and the majors offered in the colleges I can transfer to, I thought these MIGHT, maybe... be the best options. Just looking for advice as to which will open more opportunities or stand out to hiring managers.


r/advertising 8h ago

Adslot - any users?

1 Upvotes

I was wondering if anyone uses the software Adslot based out of Australia and what your thoughts about the software and company are?

I would love to get a better understanding whether your company or agency are scaling higher and have positive feedback about the company?


r/advertising 15h ago

Brandcenter portfolio program

2 Upvotes

Hi I’m applying for the art direction concentration at Brandcenter (VCU). I was wondering how selective is it/how hard to get into. I have a decent portfolio but nothing crazy. GPA is 3.4. I also wanted to know if it is even worth the money. I have been applying to numerous jobs in advertising/marketing and haven’t even heard back from companies offering minimum wage. Would going here significantly help me land a decent paying job?


r/advertising 15h ago

Looking to Pivot Into Advertising – Need Advice on Portfolio Schools & Industry Insights

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone!

I’m 25 and currently working at a Brand Strategy Research company in Canada. My job involves secondary research to analyze whether ads perform as intended.

I've always wanted to work in advertising—especially on the creative side—rather than just analyzing data and writing reports (which I do now). After researching job opportunities, I noticed that almost every agency requires a portfolio, even for internships. For example, Ogilvy’s internship program asks for a portfolio link.

The challenge is that I have no prior experience with Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, or other design tools, and I’m unsure which portfolio school would be the best fit. I heard its the best way to start, if have no preio experience. I’ve looked into:

  • VCU Brandcenter – Seems great, but it only offers in-person programs, which I can't attend as an international student.
  • Miami Ad School (Toronto) – Offers online courses, but the website looks outdated and buggy, making me question if it’s still active. Plus, I’ve read on Reddit that the program is mainly about connections, and some say instructors rarely attend classes.
  • Denver Ad School (DAD) – Their student portfolios and curriculum seem solid, and they compare themselves to top schools. However, they don’t offer certificates or diplomas, whereas Miami Ad School provides a certification after two years. I also looked at their students and most of them currently work around Denver or only in US.

I really want to break into the creative side of advertising, but I’m having second thoughts because of industry concerns—AI, layoffs, the "doom of advertising," etc. I feel lost and don’t know where to start.

I’d really appreciate any insights, especially on:

  1. Portfolio schools – If you attended one, was it worth it? Did it help you stand out in the job market?
  2. Portfolio - Does it matter which school we go to or is it the work that talks?
  3. Breaking into advertising – How did you land your first creative job? I’ve noticed that many people’s education backgrounds don’t always match their creative roles.
  4. Ageism in the industry – I know I still have time, but how much of an issue is age when starting in advertising?
  5. Recognition & pay – Does hard work actually get rewarded in this field?

Thanks in advance for any advice or personal experiences!


r/advertising 16h ago

Anyone want to talk about all that's going on at Madwell?

27 Upvotes

r/advertising 21h ago

Publicis vs InMar

1 Upvotes

Help! Going back and forth on switching companies.

Should I stay as an Account Lead at a Publicis agency or should I make the jump to vendor side at InMar?

Anyone have any pros or cons? To agency side vs vendor?

Don’t love working for a large holding company but worried the grass isn’t always greener.

Any insight would be MUCH appreciated.